Sustainability and Due Diligence in Supply Chains: Pisa Hosts an International Conference within the Erasmus+ BEYOND Project
On May 22, 2026, the Aula Magna Storica of Palazzo della Sapienza in Pisa will host the hybrid academic conference “From Compliance to Competitiveness – Sustainability and Due Diligence in Supply Chain”, organized within the framework of the Erasmus+ Project BEYOND and the European Economic Law course at the University of Pisa.
The initiative brings together students, academics, legal experts and professionals from across Europe and Latin America to discuss one of the most pressing challenges facing contemporary global markets: how sustainability and due diligence obligations are reshaping international supply chains and business competitiveness.
The conference represents an innovative teaching and stakeholder engagement activity coordinated by Andrea Bartalena, Gabriella Iermano and Luca Spataro.
The day will open with institutional remarks from representatives of the University of Pisa, including Professor Angelo Parenti (President of the Master Degree Program in Economics), Professor Leonardo Pasquali (Delegate for Internationalization) and Professor Luca Spataro, Coordinator of the Erasmus+ BEYOND Project.
A central part of the event will be dedicated to student presentations developed within the European Economic Law course. The session will explore the territorial and extraterritorial implications of the EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD), examining its impact across different jurisdictions including France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Romania, the United Kingdom, Argentina, Colombia and Brazil. The presentations will address topics ranging from regulatory fragmentation and strategic litigation to sustainability paradoxes and the evolving relationship between trade, human rights, and corporate accountability.
In the afternoon, the conference will continue with a roundtable discussion titled “Due Diligence in Practice: Burden or Competitive Advantage?”, chaired by Gabriella Iermano. International speakers from academia and industry will discuss how due diligence obligations are influencing corporate governance, sustainability strategies, civil liability, and supply chain risk management.
The conference aims to foster interdisciplinary dialogue between law, economics, sustainability and business practice, while offering students an opportunity to engage directly with international experts and current regulatory debates.
Through initiatives such as this conference, the Erasmus+ BEYOND Project continues to promote international cooperation, innovative education and critical reflection on the future of sustainable economic governance in Europe and beyond.
The event will take place from 10:30 to 17:00 at the Aula Magna Storica – Palazzo della Sapienza, Via Curtatone e Montanara 15, Pisa, and will also be accessible online through the dedicated QR code available in the official program.